Adjustable fastening device



March 7, 1944. G, M BECKKWlTH ETAL 2,343,826

ADJUSTABLE FASTENING DEVICE Filed March 13, 1942 2 sheets-'sheet -1 INVENTQR L6 e afge Mfeczwptb, y MagpsonllPfchens G. M. BE'cKwl'rH ETAL ADJUSTABLE FASTENING DEVICE March .7, 41944.

Filed March l5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A'ITORN 2,343,826 vABJUS'IV'ABLE FASTENING DEVICE George M. Beckwith and Madison D. Pickens,

Meadville, Pa., assigner to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application Mai-cn 1s, 1942. seria: No. 434.591

7 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable fastening devices and, in particular, to such devices including a track .comprising a plurality of spaced stops, abutments, or the like supported in flexible manner and a cooperating slider member slidable witlnrespect to the track andadapted to be locked, selectively, in various predetermined positions against movement longitudinally of said track.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a fastening device embodying a newand improved track constructionV which may be readily and economically produced and wherein assembly of the component parts may be quickly and conveniently accomplished with but little skill.

It is a further 'object of this invention to provide a new and improved slider construction for such devices which embodies a. new principle o1' operation, which is of extreme simplicity, and which may be cheaply produced and easily assembled. y

It is a further object of this invention to provide new and improved methods of forming and assembling the component parts of such adjustable fastening devices.

'I'hese and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which forms a part thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of a garment equipped with an adjustable fastening device according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of apertured tape forming a part of the track of the fastening device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, showing flexible cord equipped with predeterminedly spaced stop members, another component part of the track of the fastener shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating the manner in which the cast or molded-on stops are secured against longitudinal movement on the cord Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the track or trackway of the fastening Adevice shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similarV to Fig. 3 but showing a cord having integral formed-in enlargements over which the stops are secured. the stops being cast ormolded on the cord;

Fig. 6 is a -view similar to Figs. 3 and 5 'but showing stop members formed as hollow beads from sheet material and secured over the en'. largements on the cord;

, 10, by extrusion Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing aV fragment of the track similar to that of Fig. 4 but embodying cylindrical stop members;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of the adjustable fastening device shown in Fig. l, as seen from a substantially opposite direction;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view in perspective illustrating the manner in which the slider body is formed and the pull member attached 4thereto;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating one method of forming the slider body stock of Fig. and Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of the pull member ofthe slider shown in Figs. 1, Zand 10.

The adjustable fastening device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is of the general type illustrated in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,887,826, granted November 15, 1932, to Noel Statham., inasmuch as it comprises a track or trackway generally designated I5 which is secured to a garment, for instance, or one end of a belt, and which track is adapted slidably to support a slider, generally designated I6, which slider is secured to another part of the garment, or the other end of the belt. and which slider may be selectively adjusted longitudinally of Vthe track and locked in desired position.

More particularly, the track or trackway is of the general type illustrated in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,245,255 granted June 10, 1941, to George H. C. Corner, wherein the trackway comprises a iiexible cord or wire with predeterminedly spaced stop members secured thereon and supported by a flexible carrier or tape to which it is suitably secured. The stop members support the body of the slider and the spaces therebetween are utilized by means incorporated in the slider to secure the slider against movement longitudinally of the track or trackway.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the track or trackway I5 is secured by rows of stitching II to a portion of a garment I8 at one side of a closure or opening, the end I9 of a belt or the like being secured to the slider I6, as shown in Fig. 1. The track or trackway I5 is formed by a exible Stringer Asuch as a cord, wire orthe like 20 provided with predeterminedly spaced knots 2| (Fig. 3.) or formed-in lumps or enlarge'- ments 22 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) over which generally spherical stops or abutments 23 are formed, ire., cast or molded (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7), these stop members or abutment members being formed of die cast metal" or of suitable non-metallic plastic material. Alternatively, the stop or abutment members are cast upon smooth cord, the none of attachment is substantially cylindrical and there is no substantial interlocking connection between the stop or abutment members and the supporting cord. Where, enlargements 22 are provided, the sone of attachment is non-cylindrical and more nearly spherical,V whereby there is a distinct interlocking relation by means of which the stop members 23 `are secured in predeterminedly spaced relation on the cord 23 irrespective of the security of the bond between the material of the stop members 23 and those portions of the cord 23 over which they are attached. In other words, even though the bond between the material of the stop members and the cord be partially or wholly destroyed, nevertheless the predeterminedly spaced relationship of the stop members 23 will not be disturbed.

Likewise, since the textile or other material of the cord is substantially cheaper than the material of the stop members, the volume of stop forming material in a stop of given size is reduced by the presence of the knot 2| or wovenin enlargement 22 and the cost is thus materially reduced. Furthermore, since the shape of knot 2| or enlargement 22 is generally similar to that oi stop members 23 (especially after the stop members 23 are formed over them) the thickness of the surrounding stop forming material is substantially more nearly uniform throughout. In other words, this material forms, in effect, a hollow shell or envelope of substantially uniform thickness surrounding the knot 2| or enlargement 22. Since curing of non-metallic plastic materials varies with the thickness thereof and since the outer portions of plastic members, adjacent the surfaces, contain the hardest. toughest and strongest parts of the plastic material. the presence of the knots 2l or enlargements 22 substantially enhances the strength and toughness of the stop members by reducing the thickness of the plastic envelope and making the thickness more nearly uniform throughout, in zaddition to decreasing the cost.

This cord with formed-in enlargements 22 may, for instance. be formed by using as one or more of the constituents seed yarn," a twisted yarn, wherein one or more systems of threads in a multiple system yarn is intermittently fed at a speed diiierent from that oi the others during the twisting operation in order to cause predeterminedly spaced pile-ups appearing as predeterminedly spaced lumps or enlargements in the nnished cord.

The cord 23 with attached predeterminedly spaced stop members 23, 23a, or 2lb, is suphowever, knots 2| or portedbyacarriercomprisingastripofilexf ible tape 23 provided with a row of centrally disposed. longitudinally spaced apertures 23 through which the stop members 23 are passed when the tope is folded over the cord 23, as shown in Fig. 6, and secured in folded relationship by a row of stitching 23 whereby the portions 21 between the apertures 2l extend over those portions of the cord between the respective spaced stop members 23 flexibly to support the cord 23 and the attached stop members 23.

In order to prevent fraying, the margins of the apertures 23 may be suitably impregnated or otherwise treated with suitable sizing or other material such as one of the well known resins or plastic materials or, alternatively, the talle may be woven in such manner that the apertures 2l are formedin the weave as shown, for instnace. in Fig; 6 of Corner Patent No. 2,245,255. However, it is preferred, in the interest of economy, that the carrier shown in Fig. 2 be formed of a textile or other tape or strip into which the apertures 23 are cut by any suitable mechanism such as a rotary cutter, sizing or fray preventing impregnation being applied either bei'ore or after the apertures 23 are out in the tape or strip 23.

The body 30 of the slider I8 is oi' elongate form provided with a substantially cylindrical channel 3| extending from end to end and opening through a slot 32 at one side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. Intermediate its length, the body 33 is provided with a pair oi' similar transverse slots 33 extending inwardly from the open side 0f the slider body and adapted to receive and support tnmnions of the pull member, as` hereinaiter described. Optionally, the body is provided with a attened upper or outer surface 3l for the sake of appearance and compactness. Since the slot 32 is narrower than the diameter of the stop members 23, 23a or 23h, the body 3l when threaded on the track or trackway is slidably maintained thereon by the substantially spherical stop members 23 or 23a (or cylindrical stop members 23h) in the channel 3|.

5 Slide bodies 30 are prefers-bly formed from elongated strip or stock 23 (Fig. 10) cut to appropriate length as at 29 (Fig. 9) by a cut-oi! device such as rotary saw 31, the notches or slots 33 being applied to each slider body by a slotting device, such as a rotary slotting Itool 33, immediately prior to operation of the cut-oi! device 31. The elongated strip or stock 23 may be formed either of metal or non-metallic plastic material. It may be rolled or cast in the case of metal, or cast or extruded'in the case of nonmetallic plastic material.

Illustrative apparatus for extruding non-metallic plastic material to form the strip or stock 23 is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10. This apparatus comprises a press, including a cylinder 33 provided at one end with an extrusion die 33 of appropriate shape to produce the desired section in the strip or stock 23. A piston 33 is slidable in the cylinder 33 toward the die 33 to cause heated plastic material in the cylinder to be extruded through the die 33 and formed into continuous strip or stock 23 of desired predetermined cross section. As shown in Fig. 11, the die is preferably of such shape as to form a strip' 23 which is of the `exact cross section desired and which necessitates only the. operation of the slotting device 33 to form the slots 33 and of the cut-oi! device 31 to cut oif the strip 23, after slotting, into predetermined desired lengths completely to form the slider body 3l.

longitudinal leg members I2 provided at their 3 inner ends with oppositely. inwardly directed trunnions I3 which are adapted to be seated in the above described slots 33. At their outer ends these leg members I2 are connected by a -bar Il which is adapted to provide a Support for the end of a belt or the like, secured thereto, such as I3 of Figs. 1 and 8. Intermediate the trunnions and bar Il is a locking member 45 in the form o1' a cross bar oifset from the plane common to the trlmnions 43 and bar 44, this locking member being provided at its under side with a notch 46 which is adapted for engagement with any desired portion 21 of the tape overlying the cord between a pair of adjacent stop members 23 to lock the slider I6 against longitudinal movement on the trackway. The dimensions of the notch I6 are preferably such that a slight clamping action is secured. While the form of pull member illustrated is suitable for production as an integral unit by molding or die casting, it is, of course, to be understood that it may be made up of a plurality of pieces secured together in any suitable known manner.

The method of attaching the pull member 4l to the slider body 30 is illustrated in Fig. 9.` As shown in Fig. 9,` the trunnions 43 of the pull member 4l are placed in the slots 33 after a slider body 30 has been severed from strip or stock 28 and a portion of the slider body adjacent the slot is upset and pressed inwardly of the slot, as shown at 34g, in order to secure the pull member pivotally to the slider body 30 and prevent its detachment therefrom. Where strip or stock 28 is formed of metal, the upsetting may be accomplished by impact, or by heat and/or pressure, and where it is formed of non-metallic plastic-material it may be accomplished eitherV by the use of a solvent and pressure or by heat and pressure, depending upon whether the non-metallic plastic material of which it is formed is of thermosetting or thermoplastic type.

As may be readily seen from Figs. 1, 2 and 12,`

the bar 44 is' slightly offset upwardly from the locking member 45 and the trunnions 43. IBecause of this offset. the strip or belt-end I9 is supported in spaced relation upwardly of, or outwardly of the row of stop members 23 in order 3 It is, joi.' course, to be understood that the .above description is merely illustrative and in nowise limiting and that we desire to comprehend within an invention such modications as are included within the scope of the appended claims.

` Having thus fully described our invention.'

. what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. In an adjustable fastener device comprising a track and aslider selectively adjustable on said track, a track including a flexible 'Stringerl having predeterminedly spaced integral enlargements throughout a portion at least of its length, and stop members formed over and surrounding said enlargements on said Stringer, the interlocking relationship between said enf largements andthe surrounding stop members enhancing security of said stop members against longitudinal forces tending to move them longitudinaliy of the Stringer.

to prevent contact of the member lawith the stop members 23 which might aii'ect operation of the locking means. Also, because of this oifsetting of the bar 44, the application of tensionV to a memberl having the track l5 at one end and the member I3 at the other will exert a toggle action causing the locking member45 to be setv in locking position between an adjacent pair of stop members 23 to lock the slider I6 against longitudinal movement on the track.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a new and improved adjustable fastening device .of cxtreme simplicity, cheapness, strength and durabilityparticularly adapted for production by the convenient method herein disclosed which forms a part of our invention.

Likewise, the improved slider, because of the l embodiment of a new principle of operation, co-

operates more completely with the :flexible track to secure 'and maintain the fastening device in adjustment with respect to the' track totally without necessity for springs or other lock biasing or impelling means. i

2. An adjustable fastening device adapted for attachment between members subjected to tension comprising a 'nexible track having stop members spaced longitudinally thereof and attachable toone of said members, and a slider member adapted for selective adjustment jon said track, said slider member comprising a body 'having a channel slidably receiving said stop member, and a pull member pivotally attached to said lslider body, `said pull memberv having means at its outer end adapted for attachment to the other of said rst named members, and means on said pull member cooperating with said stop members to lock said slider in adjustment on said track.

3. -An adjustable fastening device,y adapted for attachment between members subjectedto ten-v sion comprising a flexible track having stop members spaced longitudinally thereof,v and a slider member adapted for selective adjustment on said track, said slider member comprising a body having a channel slidably receiving said stop members,` and alpull member pivotally attached to said slider body, said pull member having a portion at its outer end adapted for attachment to one of said members, and a locking member intermediate its length projectable" between adjacent stop members on said track to lock said slider in adjustment on said track.

4. In `an adjustable `fastening device adapted for attachment between two members subjected l to tension, a exible track having stop members spaced longitudinally thereof and attachable to one of said members, and a slider adapted for selective adjustment on said track, said slider comprising a body-having a channel slidably receiving saidstop members, and a pull member pivotally secured to said slider body, said pull member having a bar at its Aouter end attachable to the other of said rst named members, and la transverse locking member intermediate the length of said pullmember projectable between adjacent stop members on said track to lock said slider in adjustment on said track..

5. An adjustable fastening device 'adapted for attachment between members subjected to tension. and comprising a flexible track attachable to one of said members, and a slider selectively adjustable on said track and attachable to another of said first named members, said track comprising a flexible cord having enlargements predeterminedly spaced longitudinally thereof.' stop members formed over said enlargements,

members, and a pull member pivotally attached to said slider body, said pull member having a bar portion at its' outer end attachable to one of said first named members, and having thereon a transverse locking member intermediate its length projectable between adiacent stop members on said track t5 secure said slider against longitudinal movement on said track, said transverse locking member having therein a notch clampingly engageable with foldedover portions of said tape between adjacent stopI members on said track for locking said slider in adjustment on said track.

6. In an adjustable fastening device adapted forattachment between members subjected to tension and comprising a ilexible track and a slider selectively adjustable longitudinally of said row ot stops, said track comprising a ilexible stringer with predeterminedly spaced stops thereon, and a flexible carrier provided with stringer with predeterminedly bar intermediate the ends of said pull member olset from a plane common to said trunnions and said bar portion in the direction of said track when said pull member is adjacent locking position. said cross bar being projectable between adjacent stops to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said track and said sliderI and said cross bar having a notch clampingly missing carrier portions between said stops to retain said slider in adjustment on said track.

7. In an adjustable fastening device adapted for attachment between members subjected to tension and comprising a ilexible'track and a slider selectively adjustable longitudinally oi said track, said .track comprising a ilexibie spaced stops thereon, and a flexible carrier provided with stop reiving apertures and folded over said stop receiving apertures folded over said stringer y with carrier portions between said apertures enclosing the strinser portions between said stops; a slider comprising an elongated body having a channel siidably receiving said stops and a pull member having at its inner end a pair of trunnions prvotally connecting said pull member to said slider body, an attaching portion at the outer end of said pull member attachable to one of said rst named members, and a. (Ross shmger with carrier portions between said apertures' enclosing the Stringer portions between said stops; a slider comprising an elongated body having a channel slidablv receiving said stops and a pull member having at its inner end a pair of trunnions pivotally connecting said pull member to said slider body, a bar portion at the outer end of said pull member attachabie to one of said first named members,

and a locking member intermediate the ends of said pull member oiIset from a plane common to said trunnions and said bar portion, said locking member engaging between adjacent stops to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said track and said slikr, and said locking member being held in locking position by tension applied between members connected to said slider and said track respectively.

GEORGE M. BECKW'ITH. MADISON D. PICKENS. 

